Searchalgo.com redirect removal instructions

What is Searchalgo.com?

Developed by SmartCyberTechnology, the searchalgo.com (or apps.searchalgo.com) browser hijacker employs a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' (stealth installation of additional software with the chosen program) to install on browsers without users' consent. After successful infiltration on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, SearchAlgo modifies browser settings (homepage and default Internet search engine) by assigning them to searchalgo.com. Furthermore, the software is delivered with several additional applications ('helper objects' - at time of testing, the searcgalgo.com browser hijacker installed SettingsGuard) that prevent users from reverting unwanted browser modifications.

Most popular freeware download websites such as softonic.com, soft32.com, download.com, etc. employ small download programs (called 'download managers', 'download clients', 'installers', etc.) to monetize their free services and traffic. Download programs offer installation of promoted (according to the developers, '100% legitimate') applications or browser plug-ins with the chosen free software. Thus, careless download and installation of freeware frequently results in adware or malware infections. Searchalgo.com is similar to many other browser hijacking applications that use bundling as an installation method. Some examples are Start Point, SafeFinder, and MySearchPage. None of these applications (including SearchAlgo) provide any real value for regular users and they should not be used as default search engines. The search results displayed by SearchAlgo can lead to further computer infections, and therefore, you are strongly advised to uninstall this browser hijacker from your Internet browsers.

Installation of browser hijackers including searchalgo.com can be prevented by closely inspecting each step of the free software download procedure and never accepting installation of any additional programs offered. Furthermore, if you are installing downloaded software, select the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' installation options, rather than 'Quick' or 'Typical' - this will reveal any bundled applications listed for installation and allow you to decline them. If your computer is infected with this rogue browser hijacker, read the following removal guide and eliminate the searchalgo.com browser hijacker from your system.

Here's a list of browser hijackers that use searchalgo.com as their Internet search engine:

If you need assistance removing this browser hijacker, give us a call 24/7:(866) 983-7844

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Searchalgo.com browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious plug-ins, select these entries and click "Remove".

Change your homepage:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://searchalgo.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer. You can also enter about: blank to open a blank page when you start Internet Explorer.

Change your default search engine:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window, select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing", or any other preferred search engine as your default and then remove "SearchAlgo".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the searchalgo.com browser hijacker, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.

Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious plug-ins, select this entry and click the trash can icon.

Change your homepage:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, click "set pages", hover your mouse over hxxp://searchalgo.com and click the x symbol. Now, you can add your preferred website as your homepage.

If you continue to have problems with removal of the searchalgo.com browser hijacker, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.

After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions" and remove any recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.

Change your homepage:

To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://searchalgo.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.

Change your default search engine:

In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.Click "I'll be careful, I promise!".In the search filter at the top, type: "searchalgo"Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with searchalgo.com browser hijacker removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.

Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click the Open Help Menu icon,

Select Troubleshooting Information.

In the opened window, click the Reset Firefox button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious add-ons from Microsoft Edge:

Click the three horizontal dots icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Look for any recently-installed suspicious extensions, right click your mouse on these entries and click "Uninstall".

Change your homepage:

Click the three horizontal dots icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings", in the opened tab, click the "+ Add new page" link, after entering your preferred URL, remove the link of browser hijackers by clicking the "X" button next to the associated URL.

Change your default search engine:

Click the three horizontal dots icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". Click the "View advanced settings" button and select "Change search engine". In the opened tab, select your preferred Internet search engine and click "Set as default".

Optional method:

Click the three horizontal dots icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), and select Settings.

In the opened tab, click the "Choose what to clear" button.

Click Show more and select everything, and then click the "Clear" button.

If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.

Summary:

A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.

Removal assistance:If you are experiencing problems while trying to remove searchalgo.com browser hijacker from your Internet browsers, please ask for assistance in our malware support forum.

Post a comment:If you have additional information on searchalgo.com browser hijacker or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.

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